For this trip report we are just going to give a brief overview of our trip and a few sugestions we have, thereafter a series of photos which we hope will portray the beauty of the park and as to just how blessed we were with the sightings we had whilst in Addo............

We arrived at Colchester gate not knowing quiet what to expect and where pleasantly surprised at the whole setup. The reception area was very nice and we got a great welcome with happy smiles. The only thing that we did not find was Gav’s sister and her hubby. Once they arrived, we were on our way. I must admit, we loved driving through from the Colchester gate and will do so again in future, even though we didn’t see much in the way of game, the scenery was spectacular and at last we felt that we were back in a park!!.

The reception we received at the main camp was also great, and I must admit that the reception staff were excellent in deciphering our rather complicated booking, which involved a bit of camping and safari tent swapping.

It was lovely to see all the changes especially the new information centre. We can’t wait to go inside. (and for it to be complete so the Addo Webcam can get up and running!!) The Safari Tents were great and besides a few maintenance issues we loved being there. They will definitely be a ‘must do’ for next time. We had booked into nos 4 and 5 but ended up in nos 1 and 2. I’m not sure that it made much difference and I would be quite happy to stay in no. 1 again as being closest to the flood light was quiet nice and made no difference to our sleeping habits. The end units do have the advantage of having one free side which improves your privacy.

We experienced quite a few first time sightings, which were very special and of course loads of repeats especially the ellies, pumbas and kudus. The park itself was very dry and the bush seemed a bit sparser than when we were last there about 3 years ago.

We found the park extremely busy over the weekend and saw quiet a few people breaking the rules. I personally feel that people should not be allowed out of their vehicles at places like Domkrag Dam, as we saw many a person out their cars standing within meters of elephants. One idiot even posed on the ground with his back to an elephant whilst his friend took his photo him in “darkest Africa” with the elephants!!!

Fortunately it quietened down on the Monday and in future we will make sure that we stay in the park during the week. The road works near the picnic sight did cause a fair bit of disruption, with construction vehicles flying around the place, littering and happily getting out of their vehicles. Needless to say we saw very little around Hapoor and Spekboom

We did go into the picnic area to have a look and decided that it would work well for day trippers or people with kids. I myself prefer to have a picnic lunch sitting next to a water hole (too scared to miss anything).

Moaning, or as I see it, constructive criticism over, we had a ball and were really spoilt with what we saw. We were also privileged enough to be taken on a night drive on the Sunday evening. There were about 21 people on the ride and although we didn’t see too much, the guide was really informative and made it a special evening. And it wasn’t even cold! Talking about that, we had absolutely amazing weather for all but one day - whilst they were having floods back home in Cape Town.

Micetta that is the same thing to which I referred in my TR here: www.parks-sa.co.za/forums/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=33501&st=0&sk=t&sd=a&start=225I cant discover what it is, but it appears to be some kind of secretion. Even the young ones have it. I have discovered that they don't seem to have a lachrymal duct, which means that tears cannot be collected as they flow across the surface of the eye.So I imagine that this white secretion is the slightly drier version of the natural secretion of tears which flow out from the inner corner of the eye along a groove leading from the eye to the skin on the inner corner.

There is no functional lachrymal gland (tear gland) to produce tears nor any tear ducts to take fluid away from the eye. The eyes are moisturised from the secretions of the Harderian gland, which opens on the internal side of the third eyelid (nictitating membrane) and moisture either evaporates or drains down the side of the face.

Hi Micetta, There are one or two bulls in the park which have reasonably large tusks, but certainly not in the league of the Kruger tuskers. The most well known bull is named Skukusa, who along with a few others was brought into the park to increase the gene pool within the Addo elephant population. Also most of the Addo cows do not have any tusks (barring a select few) which also differentiates them from the Kruger elephants

See our trip reports:

Christmas Trees in the Kalahari May 2012 Winner Travel Tale of the year - Other Parks 2012

Wannabe Larnies in the KTP December/Jan 2015Winner Travel Tale of the year - Other Parks 2015

We didn't ONLY see elephants at Addo, but a whole lot of kudu ...........

Some Zebra up near Carol's Rest

(Gav's pic)

Some Rooi Hartebeest

and one sleepy lion

as well as another which walked past the back of our car unnoticed until the last minute whilst we were watching some elephants at Gwarrie Pan.I managed to get this fleeting pic as he dissapeared into the bush:

We were also lucky to see a whole lot of buffalos whose pics I will post next

Thanks again everyone During our stay in Addo we were really lucky with the amount of buffalos we saw. The first one was right at the fence on our first night. He caused much excitement that evening (I think he really liked us cause he came back on all four nights we were in the park )

We also saw quite a few during the day:

We also encountered the largest single buffalo herd I have ever seen herd up at Carol's Rest

And this baby with a passenger in the form of an oxpecker on it

And finally this old chap up near the new picnic spot.- Looks like he had been there a while!!

droopy wrote:Stupid question , but is there a reason why the elephant cows do not have tusks

Hi droopy, according to Ryan who was our guide on our night drive, the reason for this is genetic and as a result of having a limited gene pool amongst the Addo elephant population. It is also one of the reasons for the introduction of some Kruger ellies to the park

See our trip reports:

Christmas Trees in the Kalahari May 2012 Winner Travel Tale of the year - Other Parks 2012

Wannabe Larnies in the KTP December/Jan 2015Winner Travel Tale of the year - Other Parks 2015